Our project is a science based look at materials science, that is, what is matter made of, with a focus on water and its three states of matter; liquid, solid, and gas. We also added a look at the macro-invertebrates that live is fresh water areas in student communities. This unit involves multiple schools in different states or and we plan to find classrooms in other countries to join us.
How will you improve learner performance by engaging learners in authentic experiences?
We will build from their current understandings to develop a more scientific understanding of concepts that they cannot see and that do not make sense in their current understandings of the world around them.
How will you facilitate learning through constructivist, collaborative learning experiences?
The activities of the unit develop such that students learn about volume, density, weight, and mass through gradual steps building on concepts they can relate to. The students work together as a whole class and in pairs to predict and verify their results or conclusions.
How will you create sound instructional materials and learning environments that are based on solid research and learning theory?
We are working with instructional materials developed around research and learning theory but we are adding the collaborative aspect of involving schools in other regions, and an increase in the use of technology. We will apply research that we find to our design modifications.
How will you facilitate the use of innovations through the diffusion and integration of new technologies and technological experiences for your learners?
We will open our classroom to students around the web. We will digitally record our work and share it with others, and record those interactions. We will provide opportunities for global students to provide feedback. This process of using various new technologies for learners (that involve acceptance of technological processes & resources) will afford them the opportunity to benefit from the analysis and design work that has preceded the use.
How will you most effectively manage this process?
When using the web we must monitor all input to provide safety for all students. We will use a program that is appropriate for our project. This process involves knowing the most relevant instructional design, having the right tools, and having a team of skilled people. We will be adding information daily, as the students continue their work, until the project is completed. After that time, we will continue to monitor the comments and provide feedback to those leaving comments.
What ethical considerations will you make to ensure sound decisions are made?
As we prepare the unit, we will make sure to include credit to any materials that we build upon or use on our wiki. We will require our students to do the same. We will differentiate instruction such that all students will be able to engage in the work. We will provide choices for learners such that all learning styles find a place to contribute to the work and the success of the whole class.
What processes and resources will you include?
The structure and order of the content material is such that the information that students bring to the unit is built upon while misconceptions are replaced with new models of understanding. The resources are library and resource books, the Internet, slide presentations, magazine articles, the student handouts, and articles from scientists in this field.
Describe the learning environment and population that will be engaged in your project.
Audience: All stakeholders in the communities where our students live, all people who visit us on the Internet, other teachers and their classrooms who might follow our project or join in with us.
Learner characteristics: Fifth grade, urban and rural communities, and at least three classrooms in different states.
Anticipated entry-level skills of audience: Minimal science skills required, beginning uses of technology, ability to participate about one hour each day for four weeks.
School environment: A learning environment such that learners are free to think aloud and share their thoughts, to work together to figure out and discuss what they see happening, and a place with high expectations for unique and creative work habits and projects.
Support for project by community, parents, or administrators: Community members, parents, and administrators are included in the student work while questioned by students collecting data about their common understandings and misconceptions in a homework assignment.
Our project is a science based look at materials science, that is, what is matter made of, with a focus on water and its three states of matter; liquid, solid, and gas. We also added a look at the macro-invertebrates that live is fresh water areas in student communities. This unit involves multiple schools in different states or and we plan to find classrooms in other countries to join us.